Gardenia plant named &#39;4BELLACJ01&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  gardenia  plant named ‘4BELLACJ01’ particularly distinguished by compact, dark green growth, dense branching habit and heavy flower production, plants having uniform growth under commercial production practices, and increased tolerance to root diseases, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Gardenia jasminoides.

Variety denomination: ‘4BELLACJ01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of gardeniaplant, botanically known as Gardenia jasminoides, and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘4BELLACJ01’. This new gardenia plantoriginated from an open pollination conducted in 2009 in Dearing, Ga.between the female gardenia plant ‘Frostproof’ (unpatented) and anunknown male gardenia plant. The objective of the breeding program wasto create a new gardenia plant with an early blooming habit,double-flowered, compact growth habit, easy-to-grow, and plantsexhibiting cold hardiness.

Approximately 1400 progeny seeds resulting from said open pollinationwere planted in 2009. In 2010, progeny seedlings were planted in 2.5inch liner cups and then in 2011 progeny seedlings were planted in1-gallon containers. In 2013, progeny seedlings were planted in 3-galloncontainers, inoculated with Phytophthora cinnamomi, and grown toevaluate disease response and production characteristics. The newvariety was selected by the inventor as a single plant within saidprogeny in a controlled environment in Dearing, Ga. The new variety wasselected based on its response to drought stress, disease, coldhardiness, and unique flowering and growth characteristics. ‘4BELLACJ01’was first reproduced asexually by vegetative semi-softwood stem cuttingsin October 2013 in Dearing, Ga. ‘4BELLACJ01’ has been found to retainits distinctive characteristics and has been found to be stable andreproduce true-to-type through two successive generations of asexualreproduction by vegetative semi-softwood stem cuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for.‘4BELLACJ01’ has not been made publicly available or sold any where inthe world prior to the effective filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new gardenia variety has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, lightintensity, water status, fertilizer rate and type, without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new gardenia variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Dearing, Ga. The combination of thesecharacteristics distinguishes ‘4BELLACJ01’ as a new and distinct varietyof gardenia:

1. Compact, dark green growth, dense branching habit and heavy flowerproduction;

2. Plants having uniform growth under commercial production practices;and

3. Increased tolerance to root diseases.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new gardenia is illustrated by the accompanying photographs whichshow the overall plant habit including flowers and foliage of the plant.The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of 3.6 to4-year-old plants and 8-year-old plants grown in the ground and in3-gallon containers in Dearing, Ga. The photographs were taken in May2017 in Dearing Ga. under natural light and natural shade. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thebotanical description which accurately describes the colors of the newvariety.

FIG. 1. shows the original seedling and its overall habit, includingflowers and foliage.

FIG. 2. shows a typical flower bud.

FIG. 3. shows typical foliage, flower buds and a flower.

FIG. 4. shows a close up of a mature flower.

FIG. 5. shows flower density.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, Sixth Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown in3-gallon containers when grown outdoors under a natural photoperiod infull sun in Dearing, Ga. Detailed descriptions were taken in 2016 and2017 from approximately 4-year-old plants grown from single vegetativesemi-softwood stem cuttings. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Rubiaceae.        -   Botanical.—Gardenia jasminoides.        -   Common.—Gardenia.        -   Denomination.—‘4BELLACJ01’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Gardenia jasminoides plant            ‘Frostproof’ (unpatented).        -   Male or pollen parent.—Unknown.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Vegetative semi-softwood stem cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—14 to 21 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—5 to 6 months, a            cutting placed in rooting media in approximately September            to October will be rooted and ready to pot in approximately            February to March the following year.-   Root description: Fibrous.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant type.—Evergreen shrub.        -   Growth habit.—Compact, mounding.        -   Height.—52.0 cm after 4 years of growth and 95.0 cm after 8            years of growth.        -   Plant spread.—65.0 cm after 4 years of growth and 120.0 cm            after 8 years of growth.        -   Growth rate.—13.0 cm to 15.0 cm per year depending on            environmental conditions and plant's age, growth rate slows            as plants mature.        -   Plant vigor.—Vigorous when young, vigor slows as plants            mature.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.        -   Primary branches (one year or older).—Length: 13.5 cm per            year. Diameter: 0.4 cm at one year of age. Strength: Pliable            during the first year's growth and becoming stiff the second            year. Color: Mature branches: Green 139D, grey-brown N199B            and greyed-green 197C. Young branches: Grey-brown N199B and            green 140B. Texture: No pubescence.        -   Lateral branches (less than one year old).—Length: 4.81 cm            per flush. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Strength: Flexible. Aspect: 10            to 45 degree angles from other stems. Texture: Setulose            pubescence. Color: Immature branches are yellow-green 144A            and maturing to grey-brown 199B, and finally turning            yellow-green 144C with exfoliating bark colored grey-brown            N199B. Internode length: 1.67 cm.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf type.—Simple.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Primarily opposite with some whorled            leaves, 2 per node, sometimes 3 per node.        -   Average mature leaf size.—Length: 2.9 cm. Width: 1.03 cm.        -   Mature leaf shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate.        -   Leaf base.—Attenuate to crunate.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate with persistent sheathing            stipules at the apex of the node.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Internode length.—1.75 cm.        -   Leaf texture.—Upper surface: Glabrous, waxy. Bottom surface:            Glabrous.        -   Leaf color.—Young leaves: Upper surface: Green 143C. Lower            surface: Yellow-green 144C. Mature leaves: Upper surface:            Green 139A. Lower surface: Green 138B.        -   Leaf venation.—Type: Pinnate. Color: Green 143C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Bloom period.—Primary bloom period is typically May in            Dearing, Ga., blooming occurs sporadically through summer            and fall.        -   Type.—Perfect flower.        -   Arrangement.—Single flower at apex of stems and occasionally            at leaf axils.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 0.8 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Color:            Yellow-green 144A. Texture: Glabrous. Strength: Slightly            pliable, breakable with force.        -   Height (depth).—5.2 cm from attachment to stem.        -   Diameter.—6.0 cm.        -   Facing direction.—Outward.        -   Persistence.—Self-cleaning.        -   Fragrance.—Typical gardenia fragrance.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: 1 row of petals. Length: 2.5 cm from            fusion with the flower tube. Width: 1.6 cm. Apex: Unevenly            rounded, oblique. Base: Fused tube. Shape: Obelliptical,            obovate. Margin: Entire, slightly wavy and reflexed.            Quantity: 6, occasionally 5. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Upper surface at first opening: 155C. Outer surface            at maturity: White NN155D with a strip on the outer petals            of white 155A. Inner surface at maturity: White NN155D.            Upper and lower surfaces at fading: Yellow 10C and 11B.        -   Buds.—Shape: Oblong. Length: 3.7 cm. Diameter: 0.7 cm.            Color: Yellow-green 144B. Texture: Glaborous.        -   Calyx/sepals.—Quantity of sepals per flower: 6,            occasionally 5. Calyx arrangement: Star-shaped. Sepal shape:            Lanceolate and fused to the base. Length of sepals:            Extending 1.5 cm beyond calyx. Width of sepals: 0.2 cm at            point of fusion to the calyx. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused.            Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Inner            surface: Yellow-green 144B. Outer surface: Yellow-green            144C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 6, occasionally 5. Length: 1.3 cm, no            filament, base is fused to petal corona. Width: 0.1 cm.            Anthers: Aspect: Lying flat between petals, often recurving            slightly. Length: 1.3 cm. Width: 0.1 cm. Color:            Greyed-orange 164A and yellow-white 158A, outer surface is            greyed-white 156D. Pollen: Amount: Moderate. Color: Yellow            10A.        -   Pistils.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Length: 4.0 cm. Style:            Length: 2.5 cm. Width: 0.1 cm. Color: Yellow 11D. Stigma:            Shape: Obovate with 2 irregular shaped lobes, stigma measure            1.0 cm in length by 0.5 cm in width. Color: Yellow 10D.            Ovary: Type: Inferior within calyx cup. Length: 0.2 cm.            Diameter: 0.2 cm.-   Cold tolerance: Hardy to USDA zone 7 with current evaluations of    cold hardiness in USDA zone 6.-   Disease and pest tolerance: Tolerance to root diseases has been    observed, but not under controlled conditions. Susceptible to insect    pests common to gardenia, such as scale and whitefly.-   Fruit description: Swollen calyx with sepals remaining from flower,    fruit measure 2.5 cm in length and 1.5 cm in width, color is    yellow-green 144A and becoming orange-red in winter.-   Drought tolerance: Tolerance to periodic drought stress has been    observed in container grown plants.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL VARIETIES

‘4BELLACJ01’ differs from the female parent plant ‘Frostproof’(unpatented) in that ‘4BELLACJ01’ has a denser, more compact branchinghabit than ‘Frostproof’. Additionally, ‘4BELLAJ01’ has single flowers,whereas ‘Frostproof’ has double flowers.

COMPARISON WITH KNOWN CULTIVARS

‘4BELLACJ01’ differs from the commercial gardenia variety ‘PllGA-1’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,510) in that ‘4BELLACJ01’ has a more compactgrowth habit with plants measuring 52.0 cm by 65.0 cm after 4 years ofgrowth, whereas plants of ‘PllGA-1’ measure 75.0 cm by 75.0 cm after 5years of growth. Additionally, leaves of ‘4BELLACJ01’ are narrowoblanceolate, whereas leaves of ‘P11GA-1’ are elliptical. Furthermore,when compared to ‘P11GA-1’, ‘4BELLACJ01’ has an improved productionconsistency under a production setting in Dearing, Ga.

‘4BELLACJ01’ differs from the commercial gardenia variety ‘MADGA 1’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,988), in that ‘4BELLACJ01’ has more vigorousgrowth measuring 52.0 cm by 65.0 cm after 4 years of growth, whereas‘MADGA 1’ has growth measuring 23.0 cm by 16.0 cm after 3 years ofgrowth. Additionally, leaves of ‘4BELLACJ01’ are narrow oblanceolate,whereas leaves of ‘MADGA 1’ are ovate to obovate. Furthermore, whencompared to ‘MADGA 1’, ‘4BELLACJ01’ has an improved productionconsistency under a production setting in Dearing, Ga.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of gardenia plant named‘4BELLACJ01’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.